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Spreading the Chaat Masala

At dinner at Preeti’s house, she let me in on a delicious secret–mix an Indian spice blend called chaat masala with sour cream or yogurt, use it as a marinade for large shrimp, and grill them quickly for a fabulous appetizer. Chaat Masala is a combination of spices that usually includes mango powder, cumin, black salt, coriander and ginger. Indian grocery stores carry it, or you can make your own.

Then, while making dinner with another friend, we recreated the dish perfectly. We left more chaat masala at his house, and heard the next day he had made the shrimp with yet another friend, who says he’ll make this a summertime entertaining staple as well. We’re spreading the chaat masala, learning from one friend and introducing it to others.

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I recommend trying the pre-made mix first to see how you like it, and then experimenting to make your own mix, adding and subtracting ingredients to taste.

That’s what I do with other spice combinations such as the more common garam masala and herbes de provence (I even made the herbes mix as holiday gifts last year). Making your own mix is lots of fun, and you’ll find your friends will love to try it too.

Shannon

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About Alison J. Bermack

It all began when I was a child cooking with my dad, the kitchen a magnet for cooking and camaraderie, a refuge from adolescence. I spent countless hours chopping, sautéing and simmering my way through childhood. And now, with three kids of my own, I’m still chopping, but this time through their childhood and often with friends.